Coffee company Merlo to purchase popular Toowoomba Pump franchise with three locations

They’re a Toowoomba success story, servicing more than 7000 vehicles a week with 80 employees at three locations. Now the popular founders have reached a deal with a national company.

When Tracie and Geoff Batzloff open their first Pump drive-through cafe on Russell Street more than a decade ago, they had no idea it would grow into a massive local brand servicing more than 7000 vehicles a week across Toowoomba.

“I’m proud of how we’ve grown the Pump name and the people we’ve met along the way,” Mrs Batzloff said.

The Toowoomba couple has revealed they will sell their three locations to national coffee company Merlo.

Merlo has a 20-year relationship with the couple, who used to own the grocery store in East Toowoomba.

Mr Batzloff said the pair would still remain involved in the business for the time being, with Merlo to retain the cafes’ current fit-outs and 80 employees.

“From a customer point of view, they’re probably not going to see any difference,” he said.

Merlo founder Dean Merlo said the Batzloffs were among his best customers across Australia in terms of sales and business relationship.

“Geoff and Tracie are such good operators, we’re not going to try and change too much,” he said.

“When they approached us about taking a step back, we said we’d be happy to.

“We knew how good the business was and how sustainable it was.”

The deal acts as Merlo’s entry into Toowoomba as cafe owners, as well as its first foray into drive-throughs.

Mrs Batzloff, who moved into the hospitality for a new challenge, said the couple prioritised treating their employees well and listening to customers.

“We wouldn’t be here today without our staff, you need great staff,” Mrs Batzloff said.

Pump has been regularly named on Toowoomba’s best cafes by Chronicle readers.

Originally published as Coffee company Merlo to purchase popular Toowoomba Pump franchise with three locations